Prison warder allegedly tortures suspect to death

Jul 04, 2017

Uganda Prisons spokesperson, Frank Baine condemned the alleged torture

By Monica Acan, Joshua Katamba, and Simon Masaba

Police is investigating the conduct of a prison warder who allegedly tortured a prisoner to death.

Police spokesperson Asan Kasingye said Ronald Ssempija, 19, a fisherman based at Sengei landing site in Buikwe district, was found dead in his prison cell at Ngogwe Government Prison at 9am on June 25.

Addressing the press at the Police headquarters in Kampala on Monday, Kasingye said the case is being investigated by the Ngogwe Police under case reference number CRB 66/2017.

"It is reported that the deceased while at the prison farm, escaped from a prison warder who rearrested and tortured him and that could have resulted into his death," said Kasingye.

Kasingye said the scene was visited and body taken to Kawolo hospital mortuary for postmortem.

When contacted, the Uganda Prisons spokesperson, Frank Baine condemned the alleged torture.

Baine said that the prisoner escaped from the farm in Buikwe, prompting a 3 kilometer chase by prison warders, fellow-inmates and the public.

"It is at this point that Ssempija could have been beaten. I don't want to jump to conclusions until I have seen the postmortem report," Baines told New Vision by telephone.

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